The army Postal Services is celebrating today the first aniversary of its formation into a separate Corps of the Regualr Army. The first Indian Field Post Office was sent to Persia in 1856 and since then FPOs have accompanied the Forces wherever they have operated in Asia.frica and Europe. Since Independance, APS has enhanced its reputation for selfless service during Jammu and Kashmir operations and the subsequent was that we had to flight in 1962, 1965 and 1971. APS also distinguished itself by providing excellent postal facilities to our peace missions to Korea, Indo-China, Gaza and the Congo. Upto the end of the 1st World War, the FPOs were organised and operated by the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department.

During the 2nd World War, they were constituted into refular Army Units. Since then, APS is functioning as a military organisation under the control of the Quarteermaster General at Army Headquarters. The Army Postal Seervices extends the facilities of the Indian Post Office to field formations of the Army, Air Force and para-military forces wherever they may be serving, in India or overseas. Although FPOs are designed as model units, functioning in trucks or trnts, they provide almost all postal fcilities available to public, at civil post offices. The Army Postal Service also implements postal concessions granted to the soldiers. Although an integral part of the Army Postal Service functions as a part of the P&T system for technical and financil purpose, and is for all practical purposes a memebr of the P&T family.

56 APO and 99 APO are the name of the two Base Post Offices which are responsible for recieving, sorting and despatching mail addressed to the troops or sent by them. APS was constituted into a permanent Corps of the Army on 1 March 1972. It has chosen 'Raj Hans' (Swan), a mythical carrier of messages of love, as its symbol and 'Mel Milap' (Amity nd Concord) as its motto. These are depicted in the APS emblem approved by the President which is the motif of the commemorative stamp.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India